Funding for Growing Food in Community Gardens!

As our community gardens start to share the last of their bountiful harvest, it’s time to start thinking of next season. There are two great granting opportunities with deadlines approaching in September and October!

TD’s Friends of the Environment Foundation

According to TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF), it has a long history of supporting green spaces across the country. TD recently announced a special round of funding for next year’s 150th celebration in Canada with focus on revitalization, animation, and stewardship of public green spaces.

Timeline:

September, 19, 2016: Deadline for submission of Expression of Interest.
October 17, 2016: Applicants will be notified of decisions regarding the Expression of Interest. Successful applicants. will be invited to submit a Grant Application.
November 21, 2016: Deadline for submission of Grant Application.
February 2017: Applicants will be notified of grant decisions.
More information online in the FAQ. Applications must be completed online.

The Aviva Community Fund

Aviva Community Fund says that it helps people make positive change in their communities. For the last seven years, it has invested more than $6.5 million in project funding to charitable communities, with another $1 million for this year.

Timeline:

September 19, 2016: Submissions Open
October 6, 2016: Submissions Due
October 11, 2016: Voting Opens
October 28, 2016: Voting Closes
November 7, 2016: Finalists Announced
December 6, 2016: Winners Announced
More information regarding the grants, eligibility, submission guide, and more can be found on their website.

Free Gardening Workshop Series

Garden collective builds communities at grass-roots level

"The seeds of change are sowed among the rows of tomatoes and corn and peppers grown in 45 community gardens throughout Windsor/Essex County Community Garden Collective. On a daily basis, volunteers weed and water and harvest an abundance of fruits and vegetables and flowers — nourishing not only their bodies but their souls as well."

Check out the rest of the story at The Windsor Star here!

Garden theft!

There have been reports recently of two women (and a male driver in some cases) moving from garden to garden taking everything that is ready to be harvested. They are in a black SUV. One woman is reported as being around 40 with short blonde hair and approximately 5'7". The other has shoulder-length darker hair and stands roughly 5'4". If you see these people taking items from any of our gardens, please get the license number of the vehicle.